Cazenovia Digital Edition - March 15, 2023

‘Beauty and the Beast’ wows audiences

By kAtE hill Staff writer

This past weekend, the Cazenovia High School (CHS) Drama Club presented an enchanting production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

The show debuted on March 9, with an evening performance on March 10 and two additional shows on March 11.

The timeless story tells of Belle, a young woman in a small, provincial town, and the Beast, a young prince whose lack of compassion has trapped him in a spell placed by an enchantress.

If the Beast can learn to love and to be loved, the spell will be broken, and he will be transformed back into his former self. But time is running out, and if he doesn’t learn his lesson, he and his household will be doomed for eternity.

Under the direction of CHS Choral Music Teacher and Fine Arts Department Chair Maggie Dougherty and Maureen Carroll, the CHS Drama Club delivered an outstanding take on the “tale as old as time” with exceptional lead vocal performances and acting, well-choreographed dance numbers, impressive costumes, and a talented pit orchestra.

The production starred Ilsa Denton as Belle, Ethan Coburn as the Beast, Elijah Gebers as Lumière, Maren Smith as Babette, Corinne Albicker as Mrs. Potts, Jack Coburn as Cogsworth, JP Hoak as Gaston, Dylan Shepard as LeFou, Bonnie Pittman as Madame de la Grande Bouche, William Ossont as Maurice, and Bridget Dougherty as Chip.

“Musicals allow a unique opportunity for students to come together and showcase their talents in a collaborative and creative environment,” said Dougherty. “It’s not just about putting on a show but fostering a sense of community, teamwork, and self-expression. We have over 70 students working on this production, more than any club or sports team in the district. It has been extremely rewarding to see their hard work and dedication come to fruition.”

Cast Elijah Gebers, Connor Hopper, Lucy Hagan, Ilsa Denton, JP Hoak, Dylan Shepard, William Ossont, Bryce Odessa, Ella Salzman, Maeve Kelly, Eliza Smith, Cadence Walter, Ethan Coburn, Jack Coburn, Maren Smith, Corinne Albicker, Bridget Dougherty, Bonnie Pittman, Kate Odell, Olivia Wong, Marilyn Crouch, Jacob Gentner, Meghan Mehlbaum, Olivia Morse, Molly Wilcox, Avery Cattadoris, Bel Lazarsky, Becca Brooks, Paige Reilley, Rae Western, Abby Falso, Alayna Berson, Ryan Belden, Moth Friedman, Hailey Jennings, Amelia Uzcategui, Reisa Komaru, Ella Blair, and Maddie Caraher.

Lake treatment for European Frogbit to continue

By kAtE hill Staff Writer

On March 13, the Cazenovia Town Board authorized the continuation of the treatment of Cazenovia Lake for the control of the invasive species European Frog-bit.

The adopted resolution explains that the town in previous years has authorized the treatment of the lake and its surrounding areas to address the identified presence of the invasive species.

The resolution goes on to explain that the town has determined that the eradication of European Frog-bit can be accomplished through a combination of specially trained hired temporary workers and volunteers who hand-pull the plants from Cazenovia Lake.

It also acknowledges that the town has entered into prior agreements for such services with project leader Thad Yorks, professor of biology and environmental biology at Cazenovia College, through Yorks’ program at the college.

On Dec. 7, 2022, Cazenovia College announced its decision to permanently close following the spring 2023 semester due to financial concerns.

Submitted pHotoS

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” was presented by ChS March 9-11.

“Whereas, the Town of Cazenovia recognizes that the status of Cazenovia College is currently undetermined, therefore necessitating the securing of hand-pulling services by alternate means,” the resolution states.

To accomplish this goal, the board has authorized the hiring of three part-time individuals for such services as town employees.

The board approved payment to two parttime employees at an hourly rate of $14.29 and one part-time employee at an hourly rate of $21.43 for the project services.

“It’s $14.29 [per hour] for the people that will do the actual weed-pulling and $21.43 for overseeing the project and probably weed-pullLake l Page 13

Submitted pHoto John Volcko’s latest wood turnings will be featured at Cazenovia Artisans.

Artist’s reception is March 18

Cazenovia Artisans will be celebrating its member, John Volcko, with an exhibition of his latest wood turnings at Cazenovia Artisans for the month of March. Woodturning has been a natural extension of John’s woodworking background, which includes all types of carpentry, cabinet making, furniture making and building. On the lathe, Volcko takes us to new and imaginative places as he steps beyond the mechanics of more traditional wood working and into an expansive realm of artistic expression revealing the hidden natural beauty of different woods and grain patterns.

As part of this show, Volcko unveils his lat-

Local climate leaders convene at summit, set goals

By kAtE hill Staff writer

On March 11, the United Climate Action Network (UCAN) presented its annual Climate Action Leadership Summit at the Cazenovia Public Library.

The organization’s accomplishments include meeting with legislators regarding climate-related policies, conducting soil testing at local farms, planting 220 trees at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, launching a water quality monitoring program, sponsoring several events such as summits, Cazenovia Earth Week and energy fairs for example, and revitalizing the recycling program at Cazenovia High School, and launching a public awareness campaign focused on recycling pizza boxes.

The 2023 climate summit brought together a select group of community leaders and professionals to discuss the regional impacts of climate change, learn about local accomplishments and resources, network, and develop goals to address climate change in Madison County and beyond.

local achievements

The summit began with an

overview of the work that has been done to address the climate crisis within the towns of Cazenovia and Fenner.

Anne Saltman, who has a background in environmental and municipal planning, provided a summary of the actions that have been taken in the Town and Village of Cazenovia since 2010.

“Climate scientists predict that the main drivers of climate change — those being warmer temperatures, changes in precipitation, and increasing frequency of storm events — are expected to continue in the coming years,” said Saltman. “On the bright side, the Town and Village of Cazenovia and local organizations continue to make significant progress with mitigation and adaptation initiatives that address our changing climate. Local research is now providing information about how climate change is affecting our community, and this is helping local elected officials, businesses, and landowners to better prepare for the future.”

Kate Hill

On March 11, a select group of community leaders and professionals gathered at the Cazenovia Public library for the annual Climate Action leadership Summit sponsored by the United Climate Action Network.

as a commitment to GHG emission reduction and climate change mitigation.

In 2014, the village conducted its own GHG Emissions Inventory and joined the town in adopting the CSC pledge. “Annual greenhouse gas emissions inventories and energy performance scores are now calculated in Cazenovia on an annual basis,” said Saltman. “They are being used primarily to guide policy decisions and energy improvements and to develop sustainability projects and build public support for broader sustainability initiatives.”

Saltman also said that the reduction in GHG emissions in the past few years helped the village and town to earn the prestigious CSC bronze certification from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 2020.

Another milestone was the 2015 development of a Climate Action Plan (CAP) through the cooperation of the town, the village, several local organizations, and the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB), a public agency that

Artist l Page 3 Climate l Page

According to Saltman, a significant local milestone was in 2010 when the town conducted a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory and adopted a Climate Smart Communities (CSC) pledge

Play l Page 11 CAleNDAr

Commercial solar developer to seek state approval for Fenner solar project

By kAtE hill Staff writer

National solar energy company Cypress Creek Renewables is preparing to apply for a permit from New York State’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) for Oxbow Hill Solar, a utility-scale solar project proposed in the Town of Fenner.

The project has a proposed capacity of 140 megawatts (MW), which, according to the Cypress Creek website, would supply power to approximately 30,000 households.

Collocated with the existing 30 MW Fenner Wind Farm, the solar project would connect to the existing Fenner substation and utilize existing wind farm access roads.

According to Keith Silliman, director of regulatory compliance at Cypress Creek,

the solar developer is currently leasing approximately 1,300 acres from 10 landowners to accommodate the proposed project. Several of the parcels were placed under leasing agreements in 2019, and some have been added since.

The proposed project area once constructed would be approximately 700 acres.

Silliman said that for the proposed project to sell its power, the developer will need to obtain renewable energy credits from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). According to Silliman, NYSERDA currently has a request for proposals out, and Cypress Creek is preparing to submit the Oxbow Hill Solar Project in April.

On Feb. 28, Silliman reported that Cypress Creek has been conducting fieldwork at the project site in support of develop -

ing its 94-c permit application, which the company anticipates filing with ORES in the summer of 2023.

“We have conducted several surveys (wildlife, wetland, avian, cultural, geotechnical, etc.) as well as a full instrument survey of the parcel boundaries,” said Silliman, who added that the bulk of the fieldwork in support of the application has been completed.

A few years ago, New York State enacted

a significant overhaul of large-scale renewable energy project permitting.

The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefits Act, which passed as part of the FY 2020-2021 state budget, established ORES, located within the Department of State, to consolidate the environmental review and permitting of major renewable energy facilities into a single forum that provides “a coordinated

Griffin Vaughan

Gory died peacefully Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at Upstate Medical Center with family at his side. Born in Wellesley, MA, to loving parents Michael and Jacqueline Gory on June 19, 2005. A senior at Fayetteville Manlius High School, Griffin was a wellknown local ladies’ man and gentleman of leisure.

Funny, crazy, unpredictable and frustrating, Griffin was a handful from the beginning. A natural raconteur and rapscallion, he was full of energy and humor that kept everyone on their toes. Griffin was able to pack a lifetime of living and world travel into his 17 short years.

OBITUARIES

l From page 1 Artist

est work titled “Emergence.” Volcko has been turning domestic and exotic woods for 38 years. He is an active member of the Ameri-

can Association of Wood Turners and The World of Woodturners.

The re-scheduled artist reception will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on March 18. Light refreshments will be served.

Cazenovia Artisans is located at 39 Albany St.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Concert Series presents an Organ Recital with Organist Augustine Sobeng, Sunday, March 19th at 3pm

Griffin V. Gory

Surviving are his loving parents Michael and Jacqueline, sister Audrey, brothers Anthony and Christopher, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

No services or calling hours will be held. Condolences for Griffin’s family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices. com.

Call 315-630-9660 for Morrisville, Hamilton, or

Call 315-750-2638 for Canastota or Chittenango

Ghanaian born organist, Augustine Sobeng, was named The Diapason’s 2021 class of 20 under 30. A graduate of Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University, he is now a DMA candidate in Organ Performance at Eastman School of Music.

Program includes works by: Bach, Dupre, H. H. Parry, Franck etc.

Admission is free, Donations are welcomed.

Loving God and Loving Neighbors since 1844, 12 Mill Street, Cazenovia, NY stpeterscaz.org

Griffin V. Gory, 17 FM High School senior

Battery check

On Sunday, March 12 we set our clocks forward one hour in observation of daylight saving time.

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York, also known as FASNY, reminds people that this is a good time to do a check up on things many may take for granted around the house.

FASNY is urging everyone to check their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at this time.

Homeowners with alarms that have sealed, non-removable batteries should test the alarms to see if they are functional and check their expiration dates. Alarms equipped with removable batteries should have their batteries replaced and then test the alarm, according to FASNY.

New York State currently leads the nation in home fire deaths, with 36 death s in the first two months of 2023. In an emergency, working smoke detectors are a resident’s first line of defense and can give people critical time to escape, according to FASNY.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA ) three of every five home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms or in homes lacking smoke alarms.

“The additional time a smoke or CO alarm provides can be the difference between life and death,” FASNY President Edward Tase, Jr, said. “We encourage everyone to check their smoke and CO alarms monthly to ensure that they are functioning properly. In addition, fire sprinkler systems are proven to save lives and these systems should be installed when possible.”

New York State has banned the sale of smoke alarms with removable batteries. This was an important step to increase public safety, but individuals must also be diligent about installing these more user-friendly alarms and ensuring that they are in working order.

There is legislatio n awaiting introduction for this session that will allow home life safety products, like smoke detectors, to be tax-exempt. This legislation also includes fire extinguishers, heat, and carbon monoxide alarms purchased for residential use. These devices can mean the difference between life and death, and FASNY supports the elimination of any economic barrier in obtaining these products. The senate and assembly should move this legislation without delay.

Smoke Alarm Tips from FASN Y and the National Fire Protection Associatio n (NFPA) include the following:

Test alarms at least once a month by using the test button.

If you have an alarm with a removable battery, be sure to check the batteries every six months, and change the batteries every year. If a battery is starting to lose its power, the unit will usually chirp to warn you. Do NOT disable the unit.

Vacuum or blow out any dust that might accumulate in the unit.

Never borrow a battery from an alarm to use somewhere else.

Never paint a smoke or CO alarm.

Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home, including the basement, and in, or near each sleeping area.

Smoke alarms should not be installed near a window because drafts could interfere with their operation.

Families should also develop and practice a home fire escape plan.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for testing smoke alarms and replacing the batteries.

For more information on smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and other information on fire safety and prevention, visit fasny.co m and nfpa. or g

AN ODE tO MARiE kONDO

Ending clutter, which by definition is anything that I consider to be extraneous to an ordered household and mind, is always on my list, but because of a rather gummy combination of procrastination and the desire to do more interesting things, its place on the list is last. Today I found a related inventory among my Facebook notifications designed to help me eliminate some of those objects that are filling up both my home and my mind with … well,

junk. First on the list is “The other side of a pair of lost earrings.” Now there is something significant. I have lost a lot of earrings, mostly only one of each pair and have now a collection of scatter pins. They don’t take up much room, but they are there in the container with the existing complete pairs. So, when I have time, I’ll sort through the jumble and get rid of them. When I have time.

Then comes “scraps of wrapping paper.” Do other people save ends and pieces of wrapping paper for those small but significant gifts that we never give?

Socks with holes and old Tshirts are on the list. Yes, we have these and, somehow, they never leave the house. We stash them in bags and hide them in boxes with the idea that they make good dusters. I calculate that, at this moment, we could dust New York state and have a few still

Ramblings from the empty nest Ann Ferro

unused. Expired coupons and greeting cards that have no sentimental value are on the list. There is a drawer in the kitchen that is stuffed with the former and several shoe boxes with the latter. Those boxes include greeting cards sent by companies and their representatives full of the institutional sentiment of more sales … but it Ode l Page 5

NHL should go 1 through 16

About a month from now, what is considered by many as the best post-season in all of sports begins. Just as they’ve done in a format unchanged for more than four decades, 16 NHL teams enter the playoff cauldron. Just one emerges with that big silver from Lord Stanley that every hockey players who’s ever laced up skates dreams of hoisting.

As always, eight come from each conference. Which in 202223 is a real problem.

Boston is the overwhelming favorite with its record points place. Yet Carolina, New Jersey, Toronto, Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers all are powerhouses, too, only reinforced in the recent trade deadline.

All of them play in the Eastern Conference – which, given the current structure, means some monster first-round series where the Lightning and Leafs go at it, as do the Devils and Rangers.

Go to the Western Conference, and it’s nowhere near as daunting. Dallas is pretty good. Colorado, at full strength, resembles the champs of a year ago. Then…...Vegas? Edmonton? Winnipeg? L.A.? Doesn’t seem that imposing.

Here is where rigid conference

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structures hinder the league’s product. Ideally, a team finishing in the league’s top eight (out of 32 teams, remember) should have a home-ice advantage in the opening round, but at least two, maybe more, will not this time around.

About the only way this can be addressed is by doing something the NHL, along with the NBA, has refused to consider – namely, reseeding the playoff teams once the field is established.

The arguments against this idea are obvious. You might have far more travel during a sevengame series, especially if you hold on to the 2-2-1-1-1 format of who hosts games.

Never mind that it breaks up potential rivalries. The NHL loved those feuds in the Adams, Patrick, Norris and Smythe days when Montreal-Quebec, Islanders-Rangers and EdmontonCalgary frequently ran into each other.

Overriding all these concerns, though, is the simple idea of fairness. In any given season, there can simply be more good teams in one conference over the other. So why should some teams in the strong conference be punished, at least at the outset?

and timely review” of siting permit applications.

All large-scale renewable energy projects 25 MW or larger are now required to obtain a siting permit from ORES for new construction or expansion.

“This process is designed to help meet the state’s renewable energy objectives while ensuring the protection of the environment with consideration of all pertinent social, economic and environmental factors (including environmental justice) while providing opportunity for local government and community participation in the permitting process,” the ORES website states.

According to the state, the mission of ORES is consistent with the goals set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which was signed into law in 2019 to address climate change and put New York State on a path to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions. One of the plan’s targets is to generate 70 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

In 2021, the Town of Fenner adopted a local law to amend its land use regulations with respect to solar energy systems.

Prior to the adoption of the local law, solar energy systems were prohibited principal uses under the town’s zoning regulations.

The local law regulates the design, placement, construction, and operation of small-scale solar systems that support principal residential, agricultural, and business uses, and it continues the town’s prohibition on large-scale commercial solar facilities.

“The Town of Fenner prides itself on its rural character and agrarian heritage that make it an attractive location for farms and rural residences,” the local law states. “The Town of Fenner has been a leader in renewable energy, being the home of one of the first commercial wind energy facilities in New York State, and recognizes that appropriately utilized, solar energy may be a readily available and

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Random Thoughts

I’m not advocating just taking the 16 best teams regardless of conference. It’s fair to maintain a top-eight system, especially if the early rounds are not tied up in divisions, as they are now when we’re almost certain to get another Lighting-Leafs series.

What it could do is also give more weight to winning the regular-season points race. Sure, a 16 could beat a 1 (UMBC beat Virginia, after all), but in a best-ofseven it’s far less likely, especially if they are from different conferences and not as familiar with one another.

In other words, having lapped the field for six months, Boston’s “reward” is a tricky series against someone who had to play pressure hockey for weeks (if not months) just to reach the playoffs and, having come out of the tougher East, might be well-equipped to give the mighty Bruins a scare, even if it doesn’t end up resembling the shocking Columbus sweep of Tampa Bay in 2019.

Once, the NBA could have chosen this path, but when it instituted “play-in” tournaments for the seventh through 10th finishers in each conference, it only reinforced the long-established

renewable energy source that does not create air emissions in the course of generating electricity. Development of solar farms can, however, have a deleterious effect on the community when it occurs on agricultural lands, thereby removing those lands from production and creating a visual blight upon the community.”

The local law was the result of recommendations from the town’s solar committee, which was formed “to study the impacts, effects, and possible controls over ground solar energy facilities and to consider amendments to the zoning laws to address ground solar.”

The committee consisted of a member of the town board, a member of the planning board, a member of the zoning board of appeals, an agricultural representative, and a member of the board of directors of the Fenner Renewable Energy Education Center.

Based on research and data gathered from discussions with state, county, and local agencies and representatives, the committee determined it was in the best interest of the Town of Fenner to prohibit all solar projects of commercial or industrial size.

“This recommendation reflects the significant unknowns and uncertainties embodied in the State of New York’s recently released, yet undefined Legislative laws and the implementation of the new Office of Renewable Energy Permitting,” the August 2020 Solar Committee Report states. “The committee, by majority, recommends the Town of Fenner Board adopt this position, safeguarding the Town of Fenner’s agricultural heritage and future. This recommended action by the Fenner Town Board also supports Madison County’s Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan.”

One committee member recommended that the town approve large-scale ground solar projects, arguing that the town and individual landowners would benefit economically, that individual landowners should have the right to manage their land as they wish, and that the best way to preserve farmland is for the farmers to earn a decent living off of the farmland.

Under the 94-c process, Cypress Creek

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Phil blackwell

format, and the NHL has shown zero interest in a similar course –sorry, Sabres fans.

All of this is about having a playoff format which more accurately reflects where teams stand. Of course surprises can still happen – they always have and always will. All it takes is a hot goaltender or a sudden slump and regular-season mastery can lead to post-season misery.

But if, say, Boston and Carolina are the league’s top teams, they need not meet until the final, if they get that far. Then it would feel like a long build-up to a crashing championship climax, rather than a potential letdown if the Bruins or someone else end up with an overmatched Western Conference foe.

Maybe all these concerns are exaggerated and we get a memorable post-season just as it’s currently structured. But if all the tension and drama ends up on one side early on, remember….it need not be this way.

Phil Blackwell is sports editor at Eagle News. He can be reached at pblackwell@ eaglenewsonline.com.

can ask ORES for a waiver of local requirements.

“If ORES finds that the local requirement is unduly burdensome in terms of meeting the state’s CLCPA goals, it can waive the local requirement,” said Silliman.

Fenner Town Supervisor Dave Jones explained that once the solar company has filed its application, the town will be notified by ORES and given the opportunity to explain the rationale behind its local law. The public will also have the chance to comment in favor or against the proposed project.

“You can defend your law to the 94-c siting board, but, I mean, it’s still up to the state [in terms of] basically overriding your home rule,” Jones said on Feb. 22.

Silliman stated that Cypress Creek consistently advises Jones and the town clerk when its team is at the project site conducting fieldwork in support of its state permit application. He also said the company has repeatedly requested the establishment of a regularly scheduled status call/meeting to keep the town apprised of ongoing developments and to keep the lines of communication open.

Jones presented a different perspective on the level of communication between the solar developer and the local community.

“The town and some of our residents have reached out to [Silliman] several times with questions and we never hear back,” Jones said. “We are never informed until after the fact. Cypress Creek has not always been upfront with us . . .”

According to Silliman, Cypress Creek is hoping to provide the town with a detailed update on the proposed project at the April 2023 town board meeting.

“The update would encompass the 94-c State permitting process, our interconnection with National Grid, our participation in the 2022 NYSERDA Renewable Energy Credit Auction, and local benefits from the project,” he said.

Information and updates regarding the proposed Oxbow Hill Solar Project can be found at ccrenew.com/projects/oxbow /

Years Ago in History

By Cindy Bell ToBey

80 Years Ago –

March 18, 1943

History has proven that tuberculosis always increases during war periods. Figures for 1942 show 6,308 new cases in New York State outside of New York City as compared to 5559 in the same area for 1941.

T. B. is a curable disease. The earlier it is detected the quicker, more complete and less expensive is the cure. T. B. is highly contagious. Without proper precautions it can spread through an entire family in a short time. Certain symptoms of the disease can be recognized only by a physician.

Our Madison County T.B. clinic will be held at the Municipal building April 15 from 1 to 4.

There is no fee connected with an examination.

If you have been in contact with anyone with an active case of T. B. you owe it to yourself, your family and your community to have a check up at the chest clinic.

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has gotten to the point of late that I get more of these than I do those that have any true sentimental value. But then I’m thinking that sentiment is sentiment, whether generated by affection or avarice. You get what you can get. So, do I hang on to them?

Then there is “scratched nonstick cookware.” If I got rid of all of my scratched nonstick frying pans, I would have only one I avoid like the plague. I bought this pan at the restaurant supply store in a moment of weakness, thinking that it would give me special, chef-like cooking abilities. I never considered that chefs have other people to wash their pots and this beauty takes forever to clean. Should I get rid of it or the scratched stuff? Along with the disreputable fry pans, the list includes pens that don’t work. I do believe that, besides the two that reside in my purse, all of the others in our house fit into that category. At least it seems that way when I am looking for one to take a phone message. Who wants pens that don’t work?

Logically, tops on the list should be “clothes that don’t fit.” There is a closet full of really nice clothes from five or six years ago that belong to a slimmer me. Realistically, they should go, but hope and a seemingly eternal membership in Weight Watchers have convinced me that, even at this advanced accumulation of birthdays, it is possible to lose enough weight to get into the stylish but too-small apparel. These are my aspirational lode stones, my talismans of weight loss.

I do have a rather large box of cables and wires from old electronic gear. I have no idea what they are for, and no one else in this house does either. But they may be useful. They are a just-in-case save.

70 Years Ago –

March 12, 1953

Somewhere along the winding trail of progress we shall have to draw the line. We cannot go on indefinitely surrendering abjectly to effete culture without a deleterious loss of the horny-handed, democratic individualism upon which our nation has risen to its contemporary high cultural level of women wrestlers and television humorists.

The epochal announcement by the horticultural scientists at the George Experiment Station that they have developed a seedless watermelon is something that should be scrutinized carefully before general, nation-wide adoption.

Down through the centuries, good men and true have known that part of the pleasure of eating the red, juicy pulp was getting rid of the seeds as Nature intended.

60 Years Ago –March 14, 1963

Three 15 year old Cazenovia Central School sophomores com -

pleted a 50 mile hike along Route 20 about 4:45 a.m. Sunday.

They are: Dean Armstrong, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Armstrong; Bill Heffernan Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. William Heffernan; and Bob Googin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Googin.

The boys were taken to a spot six miles west of Auburn on Route 20 at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

They made six or seven stops along the way and were met by their parents three times between LaFayette and home, but they refused to give up.

About 4:45 a.m. Sunday morning, they arrived home.

One of the fathers said the long hills near the end of the jaunt were especially difficult for the boys.

The final hill on Route 20 before Cazenovia is about one mile long and there are several other shorter hills along the road from Skaneateles to LaFayette, as well as some long ones between LaFayette and Cazenovia.

The boys walked against traffic for the entire hike, and carried flashlights to draw the attention of the drivers.

50 Years Ago –March 14, 1973

Mulligan’s of Cazenovia, a landmark for 77 years, was sold Monday to Mr. and Mrs. John Trush Jr. They will take possession of the store and building immediately.

Miss Agnes Mulligan and Robert E. Mulligan, owners and operators, have been part of the Cazenovia retailing scene for many years, building a 200-customer a day business in the store founded in 1896 by their father, P.E. Mulligan.

Their store advertising has been a regular part of The Republican and has been featured in The Bazaar (formerly Harper’s Bazaar) and Glamour magazines. Mulligan’s is the recipient of the Gold Medal Award from the National Retail Merchants Assn. for the best institutional advertising for stores doing up to $2,000,000 annual sales volume.

Miss Mulligan has been in the merchandise field all her life specializing in advertising of a unique style.

But not the coffee mugs. There’s a bit of a problem here. The spouse brings these things home on an erratic schedule. Some people rescue dogs, my husband rescues unused coffee mugs. There is no more room in the closets for them, so they must go, but don’t tell him. I must admit that at some junctures of decluttering I have resorted to using other people’s trash for disposal (with their permission, of course.)

And then there is the continuing conundrum of how and where to dispose of my extras. I do know that various animal shelters can use extra towels, that some “thrift shops” will take electronics, that yard sales require a great deal of prep work. And then there are those things that no one wants. Take shoes. I tried to dispose of three pairs of shoes. One pair was worn once for two hours, and the other two pairs were never worn. No one wanted them. Taste may have had something to do with this, but getting rid of perfectly good washed bed pillows that have flattened into less than optimum fluffiness is impossible. There are three of these compacted beauties on the back seat of my car, looking for somewhere to go. I’ve been turned away by two thrift stores and a Rescue Mission drop station.

I have so many books to read, my spouse’s birthday card to make, seed and plant catalogs to read and friends to visit, but I guess I could wrap the singlet earrings in the small pieces of paper and give them as gifts.. That would be a start.

Ann Ferro is a mother, a grandmother and a retired social studies teacher. While still figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up, she lives in Marcellus with lots of books, a spouse and a large orange cat.

Efficient Course Management = 10%-20% Lower Scores

Just thinking a little di erently about how you play golf is probably the easiest way you can improve your golf game…not at the range, not playing expensive clubs and not gym sessions.

E cient Golf Course Management is the e ective use of your knowledge and experience to make decisions…on every hole…for every shot you take, that will help you execute your Course Strategy. Managing the golf course will give you the best chance of breaking 100, 90, 80, or even 70 for the rst time.

Will Shaw, a PGA Golf Professional with a PHD in Biomedical Science and a MS in Sports Biomechanics & Psychology, believes there is a GOLDEN RULE for Course Management and Strategy…”Optimizing your scoring is not about how good your good shots are, but rather, how good your bad shots are and how many strokes those bad shots cost you”. Dr. Shaw says, “Even Tour players don’t play awless golf but those poor shots rarely cost them double boogies”.

What Dr. Shaw is saying, makes perfect sense to me. ink about it this way…when you make the decision to hit the “easiest shot”, it is usually with a con dent swing. When you decide to hit a more “challenging shot”, that is out side of your comfort zone, you swing without the same con dence. e best rounds of golf I have played, have been the ones that I decided not to force any shot I was not comfortable playing. e more competitive golf you play, the easier it will be for you to gain knowledge and experience about your game. Dr. Shaw wants us to play golf using two di erent approaches:

1. Play overly “aggressive” on every shot for 18 holes.

2. Play overly “cautious” on every shot for 18 holes. He believes we will be pleasantly surprised how well we play when we play overly “cautious”.

Kellie Stengel, a Top 100 Golf Teacher for Golf Magazine, tells her students, “it can take years of playing, lots of practice and trial and error for good golfers to understand Course Management strategies, but by following the guidelines below, even the most average golfers can begin to see a di erence on their scorecards”.

1. Tee Shot…Use the Angles Your tee-shot sets the stage for the rest of the hole and very o en for the rest of your round. Many times teeing o on one side of the tee box or the other can lead to a better angle to the fairway. e more you start on the right side of the tee box, the more you are to aim le , and the more you tee o on the le side of the tee box, the more you are to aim right. You can also use this strategy to avoid going over hazards or to make the fairway potentially look wider.

2. Tee-Shot…Angle Into the Wind e wind can be a huge factor on all golf shots, so it requires attention regardless of it’s severity. If

the wind is le to right, start on the right side of the tee box and angle into the wind. If the wind is right to le , start on the le side of the tee box and angle into the wind.

3. Fairway Wood…Pick Your Favorite

While it’s common for amateur golfers to grab the lowest lo ed fairway wood, it can also lead to less consistency and higher scores. Use your favorite fairway wood instead. You will probably hit it with good distance and accuracy that will build con dence for future long shots.

4. Approach Shot…Know Your Favorite Approach Distance

If you don’t quite have the power to get to the green with your approach shot, it might be best to lay up and leave yourself with a more comfortable short chip or pitch shot. If you can get to the green, aim for the center.

5. Have Short Game Choices

When all three short-game shots are working, golf can be fun. But it’s not every round that your putting, chipping and pitching will all be onpoint, so it’s important to recognize which shots are on and o so you can adjust. Don’t hesitate to put from o the green.

6. Bunkers Need Respect

When you nd yourself in a di cult green side bunker, it may make more sense to play for the center of the green, or to a location that doesn’t require you to carry a longer distance to get to the green. Most of the time, just being on the green is the best plan, even if it means two-putting.

7. Have a Plan B Swing

When your swing feels o , you need a Plan B Swing. is can be something as simple as a slower swing that can help you make better contact or a knockdown shot that esquires you to keep your weight more on your forward foot throughout your swing and use a shorter, limited backswing.

8. Final oughts

Utilizing course-management strategies can save a bunch of shots and minimize stress during a round of golf. While many of these seem obvious, there can be much to learn when you play and make mistakes. It’s all about nding what’s most comfortable for you and what’s most e ective. Great job Kellie. My readers have read most of your strategies before but you have emphasized your thoughts exceptionally well.

CROSSWORD

PENNY SAVER

The Village of Skaneateles - Laborer

from qualified individuals for the position of Laborer. Candidates must be physically able to perform medium and heavy physical labor with the ability to use a variety of hand and power tools and motorized equipment. Position requires possession of a driver’s license from the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Application and complete job description can be obtained at the Clerk’s office or on our website: villageofskaneateles.com. Competitive salary and benefit package. Submit application and/or resume in confidence, along with three references to Clerk’s Office, 26 Fennell Street, Skaneateles, NY 13152 or to clerk@villageofskaneateles.com. EOE

PLANNING BOARD

The Village of Skaneateles is seeking interested persons to fill a vacancy on the PLANNING BOARD. The Village Planning Board is comprised of five (5) members each of whom serves a five-year term, and typically meets once a month on the first Thursday. Annual 4-hour training is required and can be accomplished by attending seminars and/or webinars.

Members of the board may be considered for reappointment upon term expiration. Interested individuals must be residents of the Village of Skaneateles. Letters of interest should be submitted as soon as possible outlining qualifications and background to Laurie Walter, Village Administrator/ Clerk at clerk@villageofskaneateles.com

Production crew Tea Brown, Cole Deloncre, Mesi Stevens, Olivia Franks, Peyton Briglin, Em Puffer, Samantha Arnold, Rhys Kelly, Rio Harper, Sam Denton, Carter Cattadoris, Maureen Gutierrez, and Emily Everard.

Stage crew

Medhat Al Rubei, Samantha Arnold, Emerson Blin, Hadley Briglin, Peyton Briglin, Tea Brown, Emma Caraher, Avery Dauenhauer, Cole Deloncre, Emily Everard, Olivia Franks, Conor Gutierrez, Maureen Gutierrez, Jayce Hyatt, Rhys Kelly, Bel Lazarsky, Kate Odell, Tara Pratt, Em Puffer, Nathan Schierer, Mesi Stevens, and Alissa Warren. Pit orchestra Vincent Guarneiri, Eric Feola, Cindy Deck-

er, Alison Miles, Jenna Stango, Iris Casey, Alex Coburn, Carter Cattadoris, Nathan Schierer, Clara Macreery, Ray Sturge, Macie Decker, Maggie Dougherty, Chris Schierer, Cliff Crain, Ben Decker, and Doug DiGennaro. Production staff

Producers: Maureen Carroll, Maggie Dougherty, and Jayson Pritchard; Co-Directors: Maureen Carroll and Maggie Dougherty; Choreography: Maureen Carroll; Dramatics &

Music: Maggie Dougherty; Orchestra: Mary Coburn; Scenery & Lighting: Jayson Pritchard; Assistant Technical Director: Patrick Kellaher; Costumes: Maggie Bintz and NJ

Burr; Costumes: CNY Costumes; Makeup/ Backdrop: Katie McGinnis; Production Assistants: Tea Brown and Elijah Gebers

For more information on the Cazenovia Central School District and upcoming events, visit cazenoviacsd.com

13037 The company does not have a specif ic dat e of d issolut ion in addit ion to t he events of di ssol ut ion set by law The purpo se of t he company is t o conduct any l awful busi ness permit ted by the Limi ted Li abi li ty Company Law of the State of New Y ork C R-306376

Noti ce of For mat ion of R oot ed NY LLC, a Domesti c Limi ted Li abi li ty C ompany (LLC ) Articles of O rgani

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serves Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties. The report provides a comprehensive list of recommendations to improve energy conservation and reduce the local impacts of climate change, such as flooding and stormwater runoff into the lake.

“Village officials have been busy since then with program implementation,” said Saltman.

The village converted its streetlights to LED light fixtures in 2017 (New Woodstock in 2019), installed an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at Lakeland Park in 2017, and replaced the HVAC at the village offices and fire station with more efficient units that same year.

Recently, the village and its partner Abundant Solar installed a 250-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array at the village water treatment plant.

Saltman also reported that the town insulated the highway garage in 2017 and recently received a $5,000 grant through HeatSmart CNY for signing up local homeowners for heat pumps. That funding is now being used to install LED lighting in the highway garage. Additionally, the town is working on plans to install a solar array at the highway garage, which would have the potential to provide energy for the town and numerous homes.

Saltman concluded by bringing attention to the work of a few local organizations as well.

The Cazenovia Lake Association, for example, has been working with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry to study harmful algal blooms, monitor the introduction of aquatic invasive species, and examine other conditions influenced by climate change.

The Cazenovia League of Women Voters worked with the town, village, and several community groups in 2016 and again in 2020 to produce reports summarizing the progress made in the years since the completion of the CAP.

Saltman also commended the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA) for its grant-writing and project management services and UCAN for its work and support of ongoing research into long-term trends of climate conditions in and around Cazenovia.

“Local conditions have contributed to a wide range of adaptation strategies in Cazenovia, and we are finding that climate change is leading to very challenging conditions but also opportunities for creative solutions,” said Saltman.

Additional information on the local response to climate change is available at unitedclimateaction.org/local-response-to-climate-change2/

Next, Phil Rose, a member of the UCAN Steering Committee and president of the Fenner Renewable Energy Education Center, presented a report submitted by Fenner Town Supervisor Dave Jones, who was unable to attend the summit.

Jones provided insight into the role Fenner has played in New York State’s transition to cleaner and more renewable forms of energy.

The superintendent specifically highlighted the Fenner Wind Farm, a 30-megawatt (MW) commercial wind power facility situated within the town.

According to Jones, a renewable energy company approached the town in the 1990s hoping

to set up a test tower within the municipality to measure windspeed.

The town authorized the test, which showed that Fenner was optimally suited for wind turbines.

The energy company proceeded to sign up landowners who were willing to put turbines on their properties, and all the necessary environmental, archaeological, and avian studies were completed and showed no negative impacts.

“The town proceeded to set up a zone for commercial wind farms,” wrote Jones. “The zone was set up for the different locations of the turbines. A local law was also established for the zone for setbacks.”

Construction of the project, which includes 20 turbines and a substation, was completed in 2001.

“At the time of completion, it was the largest wind farm east of the Mississippi,” Jones wrote.

Jones went on to report that about four years ago, Fenner was approached by national solar energy company Cypress Creek Renewables with a proposal for a utility-scale solar project that would take advantage of the wind farm’s existing substation and other infrastructure.

At the recommendation of the town’s solar committee, Fenner adopted a local law to amend its land use regulations with respect to solar energy systems.

The local law regulates the design, placement, construction, and operation of small-scale solar systems that support principal residential, agricultural, and business uses, and it prohibits all large-scale commercial solar facilities.

“At this point, it is a ‘wait and see’ if [Cypress Creek applies to] the state’s 94-c siting review board, where we can state our case against such a large project,” wrote Jones. “The area which they propose for the project would cover 10 percent of all tillable farmland in the Town of Fenner. There are places in Fenner where solar panels could be placed where they would not take up valuable farmland. We are hoping the state will consider the contribution to renewable energy that the Town of Fenner has done over the last 23 years.”

The supervisor also wrote that another renewable energy company, Liberty Renewables, is proposing the installation of additional wind turbines within the town. Additionally, he remarked on the local and national strides that have been made to reduce the carbon footprint of the agricultural industry, and he reported that the town has converted its lighting to LED.

Nelson Town Supervisor Jim Cunningham, who was scheduled to present on Nelson’s response to climate change, was also unable to attend the summit.

Clean energy programs and incentives

Next, attendees heard from three experts who provided insights into some of the climate- and sustainability-related resources that are available to individuals, businesses, and municipalities.

“There are a lot of resources coming our way, federally and statewide,” said Rose at the start of the summit. “A lot of energy is being focused on the climate right now. We want to know what these resources are so that as we make decisions to take actions, we can think about the resources we can access.”

The first speaker was Amanda Mazzoni, a principal planner in CNY RPDB’s Energy Management program.

According to the CNY RPDB, the primary

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goal of its energy management program is to maximize the region’s energy resources by increasing the efficiency of residential and commercial buildings, curtailing energy demand, increasing the use of renewable energy, and accelerating the deployment of advanced energy technologies.

Mazzoni focused her presentation on providing an overview of the clean energy- and climate change mitigation/adaptation-related programs and incentives that are available to CNY residents, municipalities, and businesses.

She began by explaining that all the initiatives she planned to discuss are related to furthering the goals codified in law by NYS’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The targets include an 85 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2050, 100 percent zeroemission electricity by 2040, 70 percent renewable energy by 2030, 9,000 MW of offshore wind by 2035, 3,000 MW of energy storage by 2030, 6,000 MW of solar by 2025, and 22 million tons of carbon reduction through energy efficiency and electrification.

“The state can’t do this on their own topdown, they need everybody to participate in implementing these actions,” Mazzoni said. “That’s the key takeaway here. We are all needed at every level. . . There are a lot of resources and programs available to help us to do that.”

On the municipal side, Mazzoni pointed to two similar yet distinct programs: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program and the DEC’s CSC program.

The CEC program was launched in 2016 to encourage municipalities (counties, cities, towns, and villages) to implement clean energy actions, save energy costs, create jobs, and improve the environment.

Mazzoni is the CNY regional coordinator for the CEC program. She and other regional coordinators throughout the state work with municipalities to provide tools, resources, and technical assistance to help them complete clean energy actions.

The program recognizes and rewards participants for the completion of clean energy projects by providing grant funding to facilitate the implementation of additional actions.

Mazzoni stated that in CNY alone, 87.5 percent of the population is located within designated CECs, which have earned $2.08 million in grant funding through the program over the last several years.

“To be a designated Clean Energy Community, that means the municipality has taken at least four of the actions that are part of the program,” Mazzoni explained.

The broader CSC program includes clean energy actions as well as other efforts related to sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and climate resilience such as planning, waste reduction actions and tree planting initiatives.

“There are over a hundred actions that are part of that program that communities can take,” said Mazzoni. “We now, luckily, have a Climate Smart Communities coordinator [who] is available at no cost to municipalities to work through that program and help implement those actions.”

Mazzoni added that the two programs work very well together, and she and the CNY CSC coordinator partner to encourage municipalities to at least consider participating in both.

“All of the Clean Energy Communities program actions are also part of the Climate Smart [Communities] certification process, so there is a lot of overlap and a lot of complimenting each other in the programs,” she said.

Mazzoni next introduced the CNY Clean Energy Hub, a brand-new regional resource hosted by the CNY RPDB and designed to connect the community to the clean energy economy, ways to reduce energy use and costs, and ways to make more informed energy decisions.

“Basically, it’s going to be a one-stop shop for anybody in our region — residents, businesses, or municipalities — to come to with questions related to clean energy and how they can get involved,” Mazzoni said.

Mazzoni concluded her presentation with an overview of the many incentives available, primarily through the utilities, to help entities pay for the implementation of clean energy actions.

According to Mazzoni, National Grid and New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) both offer similar residential incentives for installing efficient HVAC or hot water heat-

ing, heat pumps, and for participating in “demand response” programs. NYSEG also offers incentives for efficient clothes dryers and pool pumps.

“Almost anything that you can think of at your home that could use efficiency improvements, there are incentives through the utilities to help implement those projects,” Mazzoni said. “The same goes for commercial entities, and municipalities can participate in the commercial programs.”

The commercial programs available through the utilities include incentives for efficient HVAC equipment, LED lighting, heat pumps, and participation in a demand response program. NYSEG also offers additional incentives for kitchen equipment and refrigeration.

Additionally, the utilities offer “MakeReady” incentive programs to help pay for installing EV charging stations.

Mazzoni also discussed NYSERDA’s solar incentives and its “Drive Clean” point-of-sale rebate at participating EV dealers; NYS’s solar and geothermal tax credits; incentives through the DEC Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV)/ZEV Infrastructure program to help municipalities pay for EV charging stations; the DEC CSC Grant program; and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which is making incentives (tax credits) available through the federal government for EVs, charging stations, renewable energy installations, heat pumps, and energy efficiency improvements.

“These tax credits [through the federal government] never were available to municipalities before because they don’t pay taxes, but through the IRA there is going to be a direct pay option that municipalities can take advantage of to tap into the same incentives,” said Mazzoni. “Instead of being a tax credit, it would be a direct payment to the municipality. . . The details are still being figured out, but we will of course share that with our municipal contacts once we have more information.”

For specific information on available incentive programs, contact Mazzoni at amazzoni@ cnyrpdb.org

‘Stackable’ funding for local projects

The second presenter was CACDA Executive Director Lauren Lines.

Lines centered her remarks on the importance of the CEC and CSC programs for securing grant funding to support both project planning and implementation.

The Village and Town of Cazenovia have both earned the bronze-level CSC certification, and the Village and Town of Cazenovia and the Town of Nelson have all achieved the CEC designation.

Lines pointed out that the Village and Town of Cazenovia were among the first cohort of CEC-designated communities in the state.

“I think that’s huge,” said Lines. “In that first cohort, there were maybe 15 or 20 that were designated across the whole state, and we were two of them. Beyond that, they are really important foundations for getting future funding. It’s not just a [designation]; often these programs are sort of stackable. In order to get the next level of funding for planning and then [for] implementation of projects, you have to start here.”

Lines described earning the CSC and CEC designations as the foundational first steps that led to the completion of several sustainability projects within the Cazenovia community.

“The insulation project for the town highway garage, the HVAC replacement at the village buildings, and the insulation at Carpenter’s Barn were paid for with grants that we received from being Clean Energy Communities,” she explained. “And being among the first, we got the largest awards. Those [projects] were then done, which made us then more eligible for [things like] the bronze-level certification.”

Lines then pointed to several upcoming “next phase” sustainability and climate change adaptation/mitigation projects that further demonstrate the stackability of the various grant opportunities available to municipalities.

One of the projects she highlighted involves drainage improvements on Ridge Road and Lincklaen Steet and is funded with a DEC CSC grant.

“We were able to get that grant because we had that bronze-level certification,” said Lines, who added that she believes the project will be implemented this year.

Another example is a project involving preliminary engineering for the removal of the Mill Street dam to address issues involving backflow

Summit l Page 13

ing as well,” said Town Clerk Connie Sunderman.

The work will be accomplished over a multi-week period, depending on weather conditions and the timing of plant growth.

The proposed 2023 treatment will represent the sixth such treatment of the lake for Frog-bit. in other news

The town board awarded the successful bid for a new 11-ft wide aquatic plant harvester with 12-gauge stainless steel hull and a new tilt deck trailer to Alpha Boats Unlimited (div. Barber Welding Inc.) at a total bid price of $487,900.

The equipment is to be used by the town to help address the proliferation of Eurasian watermilfoil in Cazenovia Lake in conjunction with other aquatic weed control programs.

According to the adopted resolution, the equipment will be delivered no later than May 15, 2024.

Councilor Jimmy Golub announced that the Cazenovia Lake Association will hold a community outreach on April 23 at 7 p.m. at

l From page 12 Summit

from Chittenango Creek into Cazenovia Lake. Funding for the engineering work is provided through a NYS Local Waterfront Revitalization Program grant.

“[First], Cazenovia Lake and Chittenango Creek had to be designated inland waterways, and that took an act of the state legislature,” said Lines. “Once we got past that, then we had to apply for funds to do a waterfront plan, which we did, and then finally apply for a grant to do this preliminary engineering for the dam removal. Once we have that, we will be able to apply to implement [that project].” Electric vehicles, supply equipment

The summit’s final speaker was Barry Carr, who volunteers as the coordinator for the Clean Communities of Central New York (CC of CNY), the US Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Coalition hosted by Syracuse University.

According to Carr, the Clean Cities program was established in 1993 to advance the nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security by supporting local actions to cut petroleum use in transportation.

The CC of CNY works with vehicle fleets, fuel providers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction awareness.

Carr is also the director of business development at ABM Industries.

Within the company’s eMobility division, Carr works with major utilities and fleets to develop alternative fuel infrastructure, including natural gas, renewable natural gas, hydrogen, and DC Fast Charge systems.

“We procure, sell, install, maintain, and operate almost 30,000 EV chargers across the US, in Canada, and in the UK,” said Carr. “This stuff is

Our Farm, 1590 Peth Rd., Manlius.

The event is intended to keep everyone up to date on the CLA’s activity and to discuss any issues people might have.

At the end of the meeting, Councilor Kelli Johnson remarked that she would like the community to be more aware of RecDesk, Cazenovia’s Virtual Community Center.

Based in Connecticut, RecDesk is a recreation management software that can be used by parks & rec departments, schools, churches, civic, and non-profit organizations to help them manage programs, facilities, cash reconciliation, credit card processing, registrations, and other forms.

Johnson noted that the town is paying for the software and that it is a valuable, moneysaving resource that is free for local groups to take advantage of.

The Cazenovia RecDesk website is cazenovia.recdesk.com/Community/Home

The Cazenovia Town Board typically meets on the second Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit towncazenovia.digitaltowpath.org or call the town office at 315-655-9213.

really happening now.”

According to Carr, ABM recently purchased RavenVolt, Inc., a leading nationwide provider of advanced turn-key microgrid systems, to provide backup power for some of the company’s larger projects, including its military projects and commercial trucking projects.

“The reason all this is happening is that finally, after 30 years of fooling around with electric vehicles, the [automotive original equipment manufacturers] are all starting to make them now,” said Carr. “Some of this stuff is going to happen really quickly. Cadillac is going to be 100 percent electric by 2025. That’s only two years from now. It’s kind of scary to see how quickly it’s happening because we need a lot more charging stations and a lot better infrastructure to support it.”

Carr stated that part of his job involves working with auto dealers that need charging stations to sell electric vehicles.

“It is a significant investment by the auto dealers,” he said.

According to Carr, dealerships are now investing an average of about $500,000 to sell electric vehicles.

The presenter said he also does a lot of work with medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles, including school bus fleets and transit fleets.

Carr also provided information on EV maintenance and safety considerations; batteries and other energy storage options; battery recycling and second life; charging equipment options; funding sources; and the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, which will provide funding to states to deploy EV fast chargers along designated alternative fuel corridors to establish an interconnected EV charging network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Send your events to Alyssa Dearborn at adearborn@ eaglenewsonline.com. Notices must have the date, time and location of the event. The deadline for submissions is 10 a.m. on Friday for the following week’s editions.

THROUGH MARCH & APRIL

Dave Porter Art Show New Woodstock Free Library. View drawings, prints, and paintings.

THROUGH MARCH 31

Emergence: a Wood Turning Journey Cazenovia Artisans. Celebrating member John Volcko with an exhibition of his latest wood turning collection. John has been turning domestic and exotic woods for 38 years.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

Cazenovia Architectural Styles: Late Victorian to Modern

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Cazenovia Public Library. Carl Sterns from Cazenovia Heritage will continue the 230 celebration with a presentation. Free and open to the public.

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

Expressions of Spring: Music, Meditation, and Movement Experience

4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Carpenter’s Barn, Cazenovia. For adults and kids with supervision. $35.

During his discussion of funding sources, Carr spoke specifically about school bus replacement funding.

“In New York State, we have a lot of money for this right now through the Truck [Voucher Incentive Program] and through an [Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] funded program,” he said. “It will pay 100 percent of the incremental cost — that’s the difference between the base cost of a diesel- or gasoline-powered bus and the electric-powered cost — which is significant. It’s almost $300,000 more to buy an electric bus, unfortunately. That will go down over time as they make more and more of them. There is also money to pay for the infrastructure. . . It’s going to be a one-on-one thing; most buses are going to have a charger dedicated to that bus.”

Following Carr’s presentation, Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio mentioned that the district currently needs four new school buses.

He informed Carr that New York Bus Sales, Inc. in Chittenango said four gas buses would cost the district about $650,000, while four electric buses would be about $1.3 million.

The superintendent went on to say that, based on his conversations with New York Bus Sales and the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES’s grant writer, it was his understanding that CCSD does not qualify for the current round of the “gap grant” that Carr referenced in his presentation.

“They are giving you the right information today, but within a month there is more money going into the truck voucher program specifically for school buses,” responded Carr. “I don’t think you applied to the EPA for the first round of funding that was heavily gauged towards rural areas. . . You should apply for it anyhow and get used to the process. The second round is going to pull in more smaller communities like Cazen-

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

Ukrainian Pysanka Egg Workshop

1 p.m.-5 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 116 West Grove St., Oneida. Sponsored by the Madison County Historical Society. $40 for members. $45 for non-members. Artist and educator Linda Evans will lead participants through steps used to decorate eggs in the pysanka tradition. For adults and children ages 13 and older. Call 315-363-4136 to register. From Farm to Yarn

1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. CazArts Carpenter’s Barn. Hands-on workshop to learn how to turn sheep’s fleece into yarn. All materials included. $60.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Grumbalina Party 10 a.m. H. Grey, Cazenovia. Join for a party based on the Grumbalina kids books. Meet the author and characters from the books and themed treats.

SATURDAY APRIL 8

Monster Jam Stadium Championship

JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse. The most unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable motorsports experience for families and fans in the world today returns to Syracuse for an adrenaline-charged weekend. Tickets will be available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com.

ovia and Canastota and places like that.”

Questions regarding electric vehicles can be directed to Carr at coordinator@ccofcny.com.

Breakout sessions

The expert presentations were followed by “breakout” sessions, during which three groups brainstormed potential climate action goals and funding needs for 2023.

Participants were divided into the following groups: natural resources (trees, water, land), climate adaptation/building codes/heating, and electricity/renewable energy/wind/solar.

Following the 45-minute work session, each group reported on its conversation and proposed initiatives.

The groups were encouraged to continue their discussions and planning and to focus on implementation in the coming months.

According to Rose, the UCAN Steering Committee plans to produce a report in the coming weeks to document each group’s proposed climate action projects/objectives.

After the meeting wrapped up, participants were encouraged to consider signing three petitions in support of the Expanded Bottle Bill, the NY HEAT Act (“NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act”), and the Build Public Renewables Act.

UCAN organized its first climate summit in March 2019 to develop a strategic five-year plan. The event brought together 42 knowledgeable stakeholders and leaders to help identify the area’s most critical environmental issues. A follow-up summit was held three months later to celebrate the group’s accomplishments, evaluate its plans, and develop strategic working groups. A third summit was held via Zoom in Nov. 2020 and a fourth was held in person in Nov. 2021.

To learn more about UCAN, get involved, or sign up for the newsletter, visit unitedclimateaction.org